Keyboard for calculating machines



June 2, 1936.

J. A. V. TURCK KEYBOARD FOR CALCULATING MACHINES AND THE ALIKE Filed June 23, 1934 I/IIL Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED. STATES KEYBOARD Foa CALCULATING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Joseph A. V; Turck, Wilmette, Ill., assignor to Felt & Tarrant Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 23, 1934, Serial No. 732,077

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to improvements in keyboards for calculating machines and while it has more particular reference to keyboard units of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 364,974 led May 22, 1929, it will be apparent that certain features of the invention have other and more general valuable application.

A principal object of the invention ls the provision in a keyboard unit of new and simple devices for automatically locking all other keys in a column or series of keys upon depression of any key in said column of keys.

Another important object of the invention is the provision ina keyboard unit of locking devices Which, upon depression of a 'particular key in a column or series of keys, locks all other keys in the column or series against depression until the depressed key has returned to normal position.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a detachable keyboard for calculating machines and the like, which is adapted to serve both as a housing for denominational rows of keys and as a guide for locking devices contained in said keyboard unit.

Another important object of the invention ls the provision of compact and simple key locking devices which will operate freely between the key spacing and between the very limited spacing of the keyboard disclosed in my copending application above-mentioned.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

On the drawing,

Figure 1 is a front to back vertical view of a detachable keyboard unit embodying my invention, showing locks engaging with a key depressed;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of construction of the bottom plate means for positioning the locks.

For the purpose ofl illustrating the present invention, I have shown on the drawing a column or series of keys, indicated generally by reference character II. The keys are carried in a detachable key-carrying frame consisting of a top plate I2, an intermediate plate I3, and a bottom plate I4, these plates being held together in spaced relation by suitable vertical tie rods (not shown), extending through the three plates. 5

Each key II comprises a linger head or button I5 and a rectangular fiat shank I6. The shanks I6 of the keys are arranged through registering openings II, I8, and I9 provided in the plates I2, I3 and` I4 respectively, the top plate I2 and bottom plate I4'serving to guide thevv movement of the keys through the intermediate plate I3.

The keys are normally held in elevated position by springs 2|, one said spring being provided for each key. Each spring 2| comprises a coiled central spring body 22 which is threaded over and embraces a lug or finger 23 struck up from the intermediate plate I3. One end 24 of the spring is arranged through an appropriately located opening in this plate and the other end 25 is positioned ln a slot 26 provided ln the key shank. Each key shank I6 ls provided at its lower end with an aperture, generally indicated at 21, which comprises a slotted portion 28 and a rounded portion 29, this portion 29 being formed with oppositely bevelled or conical faces, as shown in Fig. 2.

A plurality of longitudinal slots or openings 3l are provided in the intermediate plate I3 between the adjacent key shanks for a purpose which will presently be described.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 5, it will be noted that the bottom plate I4 is formed with a plurality of rectangular openings 32. The metal at each end of the opening is bent or struck upwardly to form guide lugs 33 slotted centrally as indicated at 34. Viewing Fig. 4 it will be seen that the slots 34 in the bottom plate are directly in line with the slots 3I in the intermediate plate I3.

Loosely positioned in the slots 3| and freely 11tting within the slotted portions 34 of the guide lugs 33 are a plurality of anchor-shaped locking members 35. Each locking member comprises an upper portion 36, a lower portion 31, and a connecting portion 33. The lower portion 3'I of the locking members is rounded and has bearing at the base of the slot 34 and ls provided at its ends with a ringer portion 39 adapted to enter the slotted portion 2s of the aperture 21. shoiuders 50 4I are provided to limit the movement of the locking ngers 39.

The length of the upper portion 36 of the locking member ls less than the distance b'etween the adjacent key Shanks and the length 55 of the lower portion 31 is such that movement or depression of the key shank will thrust the locking members on each side into engagement with the slotted portions 28 of the apertures 21, progressively rocking all of the locking members, as shown in Fig. 1, causing progressive engagement of a finger 39 in the slot 28 of each key shank. v

When a key is depressed (viewing Fig. l) the adjacent locking members are rocked into locking engagement with the adjacent keys, causing the progressive rocking of all the locking members into locking engagement with the keys, preventing depression of any key until the depressed key has returned to its normal position to release the locking members.

Applicants construction greatly facilitates assembly of the locking devices. After the intermediate and bottom plates and key Shanks are in place, the locking member is lowered through the slot 3| into the slotted portions of the guide lugs 33. The top plate l2 is then secured in place to complete the assembly.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a readily assembled locking device has been provided requiring a minimum of working parts, yet operating with a maximum of efliciency.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a keyboard unit for a calculating machine, a keyboard assembly comprising a plurality of plates, one of said plates having a plurality of slotted guide lugs struck upwardly therefrom, a series of keys extending through and adapted for movement relative to said plates, and a series of locking devices between said keys shii'table by a depression of any key to lock all the other keys, said locking devices being supported in the slots of said lugs for arcuate sliding movement imparted thereto by the depression of one of said keys.

2. In a keyboard unit for a calculating machine, a keyboard assembly comprising a plurality of plates, a series of keys extending through and adapted for movement relative to said plates, each of said keys having an aperture in the stem thereof, and a series of anchorshaped locking devices between said keys, each said locking device having a lower portion mounted for sliding arcuate movement on one of said plates and provided with a finger portion at each end thereof normally extending into the aperture in the stem of a said key, whereby movement of a key relative to said plates actuates the finger portions of the locking device associated therewith to impart an arcuate sliding movement thereto and to all of the other locking devices to prevent movement of the other keys.

3. In a keyboard unit for calculating machines and the like, a keyboard assembly comprising a plurality of plates, one of said plates carrying key returning springs, a second one of said plates having a plurality of slotted guide lugs struck upwardly therefrom, and a series of locking devices supported in the slots of said lugs.

4. In a keyboard unit for calculating machines and the like, a keyboard assembly comprising a plurality of plates, one of said plates carrying key returning springs, a second one of said plates having a plurality of slotted guide lugs struck upwardly therefrom, a series of keys extending through and adapted for movement relative to said plates, and a series of locking devices between said keys shiftable by a depression of any key to lock all the other keys, said locking devices being supported in the slots of said lugs for arcuate sliding movement imparted thereto by the depression of one of said keys.

JOSEPH A. V. TURCK. 

